Pubdate: Sat, 22 Feb 2003
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n248/a06.html
Author: Philip Slattery
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

RISE ABOVE OUTDATED DOGMA

It is interesting that you find the propaganda more convincing than the 
science. Your comment in response to Chris Buors' "Letter to the Editor" 
(Feb. 15), "A driver high on pot is a driver likely to kill", believe it or 
not flies in the face of all recent scientific studies, for example those 
from the British Transport and Road Research Laboratory, the Australian 
Adelaide University and your very own Senate.

The British study says a tired driver is more dangerous than a cannabis 
smoker is and the Adelaide study actually says that they are even less 
likely to have an accident than a sober driver. I know "drugs are bad" 
makes for good headlines. But don't you think that in the 21st century it 
is time to rise above such outdated dogma?

Philip Slattery, Bannockburn, Scotland

(We don't think drugs are categorically bad, but we also don't think people 
should be driving if they aren't mentally sharp -- we might add that after 
looking at the studies in question we find them less than persuasive) 
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MAP posted-by: Jackl